While verge collections have been a part of metropolitan life for decades, more councils are changing the way they collect bulk rubbish — and not everyone is happy.

Mayor of Fremantle Brad Pettit started an online conversation about the issue recently, admitting there was no perfect solution.

"It's one of those hot-button issues where as soon as you raise it it's amazing how everyone has a view and everyone is passionate about it," Dr Pettit told ABC Radio Perth.

While Fremantle has offered the traditional two verge pick-ups for a number of years, council is now considering other options.

"What we are trying to balance is making it convenient for people who want to get rid of bulk rubbish, while at the same time balancing the amenity and tidiness of the suburb, cost issues and also the recycling issue," Dr Pettit said.

"The feedback we got from the two pick-ups a year was that because people would often put their stuff out a few weeks early, then it would take a few weeks to pick it up, for a good portion of the year the streets looked terrible."

Pick-up vs drop-off

This year, the council will do just one pick-up, as well as offer a year-round drop-off service at its waste depot.

A number of Perth councils have dropped collections altogether and ask residents to request skips when they need them.

"That's a bit controversial because some people like two collections a year and some none," Dr Pettit said.

Louise: "Drop-off points won't work for me. I don't have a car big enough to transport say a dead couch. I don't have a trailer, and I don't have a vehicle with a tow bar if I was able to borrow a trailer from someone. How would I get my junk to a drop-off point?"

Philip: "I love verge pick-up times — one man's junk is another man's treasure, and living on a pension these days I've become richer by these people's kind donations."

Craig: "I hate them. In Gosnells I have had rubbish blowing across the streets off piles due to the high winds. It makes the area look awful."

Sarah: "I loved having a verge collection in Kalamunda, now we have to order skip bins to get rid of green waste and household stuff. I think it puts people off."

Andrew: "Every single object picked up at verge collections goes straight to landfill ... I much prefer the on-demand service that some councils have now adopted."

Community spirit through sharing

Dr Pettit said he would not like to see verge collections disappear altogether.

"I actually quite like that people do furnish their houses and share things," he said.

"I think my exercise bike, which doesn't get used very often, came from a neighbour putting one out on the verge.

"I think it is quite good community sharing which you can't get if you just have a tip pass or throw things into a skip bin."

He said council was also grappling with the increasing problem of fly tipping — people dumping large heaps of rubbish on verges and vacant lots.

"We see that all year round now. It's a growing problem for councils and that's actually part of the reason for reducing the verge pick-ups to one a year and moving towards other systems," Dr Pettit said.

ACT leading the way

Ultimately, Dr Pettit said he would like to see Perth follow the system used in Canberra.

"Probably the best is in the ACT where you have a tip shop where you can drop things off and pick them up.

"You get much higher recycling rates that way.

"I think that's the future.

"It's complicated, there is no one perfect solution. It's about finding one that residents are going to be happy with and that is sustainable and cost effective."